Vortex Surfing

The U.S. Air Force is going to the birds.

The U.S. Air Force has conducted experiments to see if flying aircraft in formations (similar to those birds use, like the “V” used by large migrating birds) would enable jet aircraft to use less fuel. The tests were successful and the air force is working on implementing “vortex surfing” into training and flight control software.

This effect has been understood for years, but only modern computer control systems make it possible to exploit it. That's because staying in a dynamically unstable vortex is a very risky and demanding flight procedure, requiring enormous effort on the part of the pilot, and can easily result in disaster. In 1966, a F-104 Starfighter flying in formation with a XB-70 Valkyrie for a photo shoot got caught up in the wing vortex of the big bomber, upon which it promptly flipped over and the two aircraft collided, causing both to crash and killing two of the three pilots involved.

I'm just glad I won't be one of those pilots (geese?) stuck in an inherently unstable formation and entirely at the mercy of computers. But hey, we'll save millions of dollars in gas! That sounds really good -- until you turn a couple of $100M F-22s and their pilots into overpriced lawn darts.